Just leaving the house can prove deadly

Sudden changes in temperature, like stepping from a warm house on to a cold street can trigger your symptoms

Asthma UK

"Sudden changes in temperature, like stepping from a warm house on to a cold street can trigger your symptoms," the charity said.

"Cold weather is a top trigger for people with asthma," Colette Harris, deputy director of digital health at Asthma UK told The Sun.

"Plummeting temperatures that have been forecast across the country this week could put an estimated four million people with asthma at risk of life-threatening asthma attacks.

"This is because cold or damp air can make the airways of someone with asthma spasm, causing symptoms like coughing, wheezing and breathlessness."

Stay inside as much as possible

Chilly weather can also cause an explosion of mould spores in the air - another trigger for asthma attacks.

And with flu and cold viruses doing the rounds, many sufferers find they're symptoms are worse anyway at this time of the year.

One piece of advice is to try and limit the amount of time you spend outside, to reduce the risk of a deadly attack.

But, staying inside isn't a solution.

Ms Harris urged all asthmatics to make sure they always carry their asthma inhalers with them.

"To stay well in the cold weather, people with asthma should take their preventer inhaler (usually brown) as prescribed, as this tackles inflammation in the airways so they are less likely to react to triggers like cold air," she told The Sun.

"They should also make sure they carry their reliever inhaler with them at all times."

Wear a scarf

As well as always carrying your inhalers, Asthma UK also reminds all asthmatics to wrap up - and to wear a scarf.

"Wrapping a scarf loosely over your nose and mouth before you got out will help to warm up the air before you breathe it in."

The yellow weather warning remains in place across the UK until Friday, with more snow forecast.

Up to four inches of snow are predicted to fall on higher ground as a fleet of 2,000 gritters battle a -11C "polar plunge".

Schools in Manchester and Liverpool have stayed shut today, while the cities airports have also been closed for business.

Forecasters at the Met Office have warned the snow storm could spark power cuts and mobile phone coverage.

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The Met Office has issued a ‘severe’ Yellow alert for snow and ice across most of the country and warned that passengers and vehicles could become stranded

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This radar image from the Met Office shows snow falling across the southeast on Wednesday

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The freezing, damp air can trigger spasms in the airways that brings on an asthma attack, experts explainedCredit: Getty - Contributor

How to make sure you're using your asthma inhaler correctly

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